A worthy cause
photo illustration by Alex Martin
Gee-Gees hoops teams to host third annual “Shoot for the Cure” game
WHEN THE UNIVERSITY of Ottawa’s women’s and men’s basketball teams host the Laurentian Voyageurs on Jan. 9 at Montpetit Hall, the real game plan will focus on increasing breast cancer awareness. Th e deadly disease claimed a valuable life in the basketball community on Sept. 13 when Carolyn Sturgess, a former Laurentian basketball standout and the sister of current Voyageur men’s coach Shawn Swords, lost her battle with breast cancer at age 39. Th e “Shoot for the Cure” night aims to raise money to donate to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.
“The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association has organized these awareness events for three years now,” said Amy Roberts, a promotions officer with Sports Services. Roberts will be spearheading Ottawa’s fundraiser.
“Every university that has a woman’s basketball team chooses one game per year to raise the awareness of a cancer. Last year in Canada, the association raised $92,500,” she said. Roberts admitted that promoting the event this year was more difficult because of the timing.
“For many people, it’s their first week back at school,” she said. “But there’s a specific reason we’re setting it for Jan. 9 against Laurentian.”
Sturgess played university basketball for the Lady Vees from 1989 to 1994. She guided the team to four consecutive provincial championships and was named a league all-star in 1993 and 1994. She accomplished all this while completing a bachelor of engineering degree, and earning fi ve Academic All-Canadian honours.
Sturgess was inducted into the Alumni Voyageur Hall of Fame in 2008, alongside Swords.
“[Swords] is close friends with [Gee-Gees women’s basketball head coach] Andy Sparks,” said Roberts. “We felt it would be appropriate to host the ‘Shoot for the Cure’ with the Voyageurs in town.”
T-shirts will be sold prior to and during both basketball games for 10 dollars. Th ere will also be ribbons, pins, and prizes given out. Roberts said that the T-shirts will sell out during the game, so anyone interested in purchasing them separately is invited to contact her at arobe67@uottawa.ca.
“It does feel good to wear something, even if it’s just a T-shirt or pink wristband, to help the cause,” said fourth-year guard Kelly Weir of the women’s basketball team. “Our team will be wearing pink practice jerseys and socks,” she said.
The Gee-Gees men’s team will also be looking pretty in pink, according to Roberts.
“They will also be contributing to the cause by wearing the custom practice jerseys and socks,” she said. “[Head coach] Dave DeAveiro was very proactive this year, asking if his team could do anything to help out.”
The issue of breast cancer is a serious one, but Roberts hopes to keep the evening light and enjoyable.
“Our main goal is to create awareness, but with a fun atmosphere for everyone,” she said.
Weir said that she and her teammates are looking forward to the event.
“We can take some things for granted sometimes, and after the holidays, it’s nice to give back and help in this small way.”
The ‘Shoot for the Cure’ games will take place at Montpetit Hall on Jan. 9, starting at 6 p.m.
